Do Radiation Treatments For Prostate Cancer Hurt?

Jan. 01, 2009 -- Question: Do radiation treatments for prostate cancer hurt?

Answer: So radiation treatments, or radiation therapy, comes in two forms. Now, the goal of this therapy is to cure prostate cancer. So, one form of therapy is called external beam radiation therapy, but in it's current version, it's commonly referred to as intensity modulated radiation therapy, or IMRT.

These are where the beams come from outside the body and hit the prostate at various angles. The other type of therapy is when radioactive seeds are implanted directly into the prostate, usually in some sort of operating room setting, but it's an outpatient procedure.

In both cases, the patient does not experience any form of pain. There may be some discomfort, but pain and the need for pain medications is not necessary.